From 40 and onward: trying to make progress starting at zero.

Monthly Archives: February 2014

February’s point was to prove we can’t control out plans very well. there is always something coming. for me, it was another setback in weather (in this case just pure cold) but also when the weather was good for that one day, the cable shifting the rear derailleur broke…inside the brake/shifting handle. I had to fish out the little inch long frayed cable and then thread a new one in and through, re-adjusting the rear mechanism again. Once done, it was time to put the bike away and continue with my family activities. Also, another back thing after that came into existence and just screwed things up royally. I swear to god I had a slipping disc occurring in the middle of the upper back. I was doing Yoga stretches for a straight back and nothing was helping. Well, the cobra pose seemed to do a little but in the end, a pair of extra strength Tylenol tablets zapped the pain and it really didn’t come back. I have no idea what caused that but it is gone now and This week I was able to actually get a good workout in. The past two weeks saw me on the trainer inside twice. In the hotels with the back issue I was able to do some leg exercise but really that was it, nothing cardio based.

I have a nice book on base building for the cyclist and it makes a lot of things clearer. It is extremely difficult to go out there and NOT hit it hard. To really have a great cardio and long lasting powerful engine, I need to train the fat burning range of heart rate. I have been outside that envelope for a while and need to pay attention to it. If not, I will just train myself to burn carbs and ignore the fats. That is the endurance power, especially when you can use both combined for power and endurance. I need to dig deeper into this book and I just might see some results. Weight loss goals have been set back by the months events. I’m at 207-209 lbs now with not much change. Understandable. when the weather gets better this will change a lot and things will get good. I have some hope.

Aaaaand it sucks. January was not nice. January is never really nice to most people. It can’t make up it’s mind where I live. Should it be nice with 50-60 degree days or should it taketh away with 15 degree days and snow. February has more of the same and can really mess you up in the head by giving more of the same. Well, on the nice days I am travelling at work. At home, it is crap. This seems to be the constant in the experiment. At least I was able to use the trainer in the spare room on occasion. At this point people start feeling down about their goals. I can only imagine what people living where Winter lasts 5 months go through. They start to sit and get tired of not doing anything with what they are training for. I would. I am. Shoot, earlier this week I asked myself what I am doing all of this for. I asked this because the local social bicycling club is a large group and they are all involved, some involved in racing with other small teams of friends competing. That would be great stuff to do! Tuesday nights are the ride or spin nights. I am working. Saturday mornings I could possibly do but those are also for the longer rides when they start up. Saturday mornings I should be alright with I think. Assuming the family doesn’t need any special things, ie: Sick kids or what not.

I am training the skill here and need to pick something to do with it like a fun ride or race of some kind. An open classic type or Criterium perhaps is a good way to go but I have to sign up for one and I have no idea about the schedule of work to let me do that this early in advance. Work has already taken every possible Tuesday night spin class from me. Family time must be had when possible. I have limits and this is where I start to think about why I am doing this If I can’t even attend the basic purpose of why we ride bikes. It’s fun with friends and family. That is the downer. Where’s the schedule allowance for that? I guess the family part is the way to go. Ride with them. Take care of them with bikes. Any extra things to get them into? Then try a race….If I’m around for such a thing.